CAN ONE BE A CHRISTIAN OUTSIDE THE CHURCH?
                                 
INTRODUCTION:
     A.  This is an age of indifference to spiritual ideas.
     1.  More interested in going to the moon--than heaven.
     2.  Bible no longer gets daily reading--but a weekly dusting.
     3.  More unbelievers in places of spiritual influence than believers.
     4.  Everyone has got an opinion--closest they have been is a funeral or court!
     B.  We cannot separate Christianity and common sense.
     1.  "One church as good as another"--that blames God for confusion.
     2.  "All headed to same place"--true of buses with same schedule of rules.
     3.  "Right if you think it is right"--then 9 x 9 = 80.
     4.  "Nothing in a name"--so you're married to Jezebel?
     C.  Jesus intended religion to be practical--and--appeal to good common sense.  Mt. 7:
           24-27; Jn. 14:15.
     D.  In answer to question do you say, "yes," "no," or "I'm undecided?"
I.  MODERN EXCUSES THAT UNDERMINE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CHURCH.
     A.  "People lived and died before it was established."
     1.  Judged by the law they lived under.
     2.  Rom. 2:12; Tit. 2:12.
     B.  "Excludes dead-bed repentance."
     1.  If there is such, special not revealed salvation, therefore outside realm of
          Gospel preaching and promises.
     2.  II Cor. 7:10.
     C.  "What if heard in a desert--no water."  What if died having never heard--blame God!
     D.  "What about original sin?"  How can an infant have knowledge of law?  Rom. 4:14;
           5:13; Ezek. 18:19-20.
     E.  "There is an intermediate world where another chance given."  Purgatory good for
           business, but it is not in the Bible.
II.  DEFINITION OF TERMS.\
     A.  "Church" - Mt. 16:18; Eph. 4:4; Acts 20:28; Acts 2:47; Eph. 2:16-19; 5:22-26.
     B.  "Christian" - I Cor. 12:13; I Pet. 2:9; Gal. 3:26,27.
     C.  What is the difference between "salvation" and "church membership?"
     1.  Same operation of God - Acts 2:47.
     2.  Could be no Christians outside the church.
III.  ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN ARE IN GOD'S FAMILY.
     A.  Process--adoption--Gal. 4:4-6; Rom. 8:15-17; Eph. 2:19-22.
     1.  Adopted child gets: inheritance, name, parent.
     2.  We (Christians) --inheritance, name, parent
     3.  Same: salvation, justification, regeneration, sanctification.
     B.  How did process of adoption come about?
     1.  God planned - Eph. 1:3-5 (classes, not individuals).
     2.  Son purchased - I Pet. 1:18-21.
     3.  Holy Spirit revealed - Jn. 16:7-13.
     4.  Man obeys - Eph. 1:13; 4:30.
     C.  What must man do to come into God's Family? Jn. 3:3-5; Gal. 3:26,27.
     D.  Results of adoption:
     1.  Relationship - Mt. 28:19; Eph. 2:19,20; Heb. 12;22-24.
     2.  Name - Isa. 62:2; Acts 22:16.
     3.  Privileges - Jn. 14:6, 14.
     4.  Help - I Tim. 2:5; Rom. 8:26.
     5.  Inheritance - Jn. 14:1-3; I Pet. 1:4.
IV.  THE CHURCH THAT OBSERVES THE GOD-APPOINTED DAY.
     A.  One day in the New Testament is called "the Lord's day."
     1.  The day of victory over the grave - Mk. 16:1.
     2.  The day of the giving of the Holy Spirit - Mk. 16:1.
     3.  The day the church began - Acts 2:41.
     B.  Two things to be done only on the first day of the week.
     1.  Breaking of bread - I Cor. 11:24,25; Acts 20:7.
     2.  Laying by in store - I Cor. 16:1,2.
     3.  No example of a Christian gathering on any other day!
     C.  Other items of Christian worship:
     1.  Congregational singing - Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16.
     2.  Prayer - Acts 2:42.
     3.  Teaching - Acts 2:42.
V.  THE CHURCH THAT PROCLAIMS HIS DIVINE PLAN OF SALVATION.
     A.  No one joined the N.T. church - Acts 2:47.
     1.  The word was proclaimed.
     2.  Obedience resulted in salvation--church membership--I Cor. 12:13; Acts 2:41.
     B.  Today there are any number of "plans" preached.
     1.  One would exclude the other if true.
     2.  It may be too simple for some to say "just one." Eph. 4:4-6.
     C.  There are six steps to be taken to be saved.
     1.  Hear - Rom. 10:13-17; Acts 2:37; Acts 18:8.
     2.  Believe - Mk. 16:16; Acts 16:31; Acts 18:8.
     3.  Repent - Acts 17:30,31; Acts 2:38; Lk. 13:3.
     4.  Confess - Rom. 10:9,10: Acts 8:36-38.
     5.  Baptism (immersion) - Mt. 26:20; I Pet. 3:21; Acts 2:38; Col. 2:12.
.         6.  Life of faithfulness - Rev. 2:10; II Pet. 1:7-11.
CONCLUSION:
     A.  God is satisfied with nothing less than a full surrender to Him.
     1.  A church that is half right is not all right.
     2.  Substitutions are not acceptable - Mt. 15:9.
     B.  What is wrong with the New Testament way?
     C.  Can you see anything wrong with the Church we have described? (Review 5 points).
     D.  If nothing wrong--why not let Christ add you today?
     E.  If you are not doing what Christ wants you to do--if you are not where Christ wants
           you to be--then come to Him now!